Chris Wilder steeled for an emotional Sheffield derby

For someone who grew up watching Sheffield United on the terraces and later played for them, taking charge of his first Steel City derby as manager is likely to be an emotional occasion for Chris Wilder. Hillsborough will host the first meeting of United and Sheffield Wednesday for 5½ years and Wilder will hope the experience proves happier than his first real memory of the derby at that ground almost 40 years ago. Wilder had not long turned 12 when United travelled to Hillsborough on Boxing Day 1979 in the old third division and were duly trounced, with Jack Charlton’s Wednesday going on to win promotion that season. “I didn’t go to Hillsborough that day but they gave us a right doing and their fans have never stopped talking about it since,” Wilder said. Hillsborough will host the first Steel City derby in five and a half years Credit: GETTY IMAGES “A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then and right the way through there have been good and bad derby days I’ve had. “I have been in the Kop as a fan after supping three pints with my mates but three pints? All I have ever really wanted against Sheff Wednesday is three points.” United missed the opportunity to go top of the Championship with a 1-0 defeat against Norwich last weekend, when Wilder, frustrated by the visitors’ perceived time-wasting and gamesmanship, was sent to the stands for entering the opposition technical area and kicking the ball back into play. But Wilder, who will be in the dug-out after escaping punishment for the Norwich flare-up, is not worried about losing his head again. “I think it’ll possibly be calmer than friends and family who are going to watch the game,” he said.